History World-Changers Who Survived Childhood Diseases  

Historians think George Washington was plagued by several diseases throughout his life. First, when he was 15, he got diptheria, a common childhood infection which was often fatal. Then, when he was 17, he got malaria, which doesn't often happen in the United States now, but was very common back then. As if that wasn't enough, he got smallpox when he was 19. That experience inspired him to have all the soldiers in the Colonial Army vaccinated for smallpox. 

Washington continued to suffer from other diseases throughout his life, until he finally died from complications from the flu.

Age: Dec. at 67 (1732-1799)

Birthplace: Contiguous United States, United States of America, United States, with Territories, Westmoreland County, + more

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#34 on People We Wish Were Still Alive

#1 on The Greatest U.S. Presidents of All Time

#52 on The Greatest Minds of All Time

#16 on The Most Influential People of All Time

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Desmond Tutu is widely known for his outspoken opposition to apartheid in South Africa. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. When he was 12 years old, he nearly died of tuberculosis. This experience made him want to become a doctor, but his family could not afford medical school tuition. He instead became a priest and deacon, and later a bishop, and used his role in the church to advance the movement for racial equality.

Age: 86

Birthplace: Klerksdorp, South Africa

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#90 on The Most Enlightened Leaders in World History

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Thomas Edison contracted scarlet fever when he was 14 years old. The infection caused him to go completely deaf in one ear and mostly deaf in the other. Edison claimed he lost his hearing because a train conductor once picked him up by his ears to prevent him from falling off a train, but experts doubt this was actually the cause.

Age: Dec. at 84 (1847-1931)

Birthplace: Milan, Ohio, United States of America

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#39 on The Greatest Minds of All Time

#26 on The Most Influential People of All Time

#21 on The Most Important Leaders in U.S. History

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Joseph Stalin contracted smallpox when he was seven years old. The disease left him with severe facial scars, and he had as many photos of himself as possible retouched to reduce the appearance of the scarring.

Age: Dec. at 75 (1878-1953)

Birthplace: Gori, Georgia

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#70 on The Most Influential People of All Time

#44 on The Most Important Leaders in World History

#86 on The Most Enlightened Leaders in World History

#3 on The Most Influential People of the Cold War

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